Olympics 2008 Archive

These were the beautiful Olympics. They opened and closed with ceremonies that practically redefined choreography and gave a lasting lesson in the power of imagination. They opened hearts and minds, at least for a fortnight, in bringing the once-forbidden world of China into cultural union with the West.

South Korea captured the gold medal and capped a perfect and improbable Olympic run with the country's biggest win yet in international baseball, a 3-2 victory over defending champion Cuba on Saturday night in the championship of the Beijing Games.

Members of the U.S. baseball team were almost universally displeased with IOC president Jacques Rogge's remarks that MLB players must be used in some capacity for the IOC to reconsider their sport for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The United States baseball team's dream of the last Olympic gold medal for at least eight years died on Wukesong Main Field Friday night, where irrepressible Cuba hit four home runs in a 10-2 victory that set up a gold-medal game with Korea.

Korea continued its magical unbeaten flight through the Summer Olympics by scoring four runs in the eighth and advancing to the gold medal game with a 6-2 victory over Japan on Friday at Wukesong Main Field.

After 10 scoreless innings, the U.S. Olympic baseball team broke through in the 11th inning under the extra inning tiebreaker rule, scoring four times on its way to a 4-2 victory over Japan on the final day of preliminary competition.

The United States can join unbeaten Cuba and Korea in the medal round of the Summer Olympics by claiming one of the two vacant berths with a victory today (7 a.m. ET) against Chinese Taipei. Mets farmhand Brandon Knight starts for the U.S.

Terry Tiffee doubled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the seventh, Brian Barden homered and tied the game with his seventh-inning double and the U.S. baseball team rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Canada 5-4 in Olympic baseball Saturday.

On the west perimeter of China's capital city, in a district called Wukesong, there were bountiful, desolate acres of dirt and ambitious plans for three important baseball fields. The 2008 Summer Olympics would be played there.

Stephen Strasburg flirted with a no-hitter and pitched seven scoreless innings, while Matt LaPorta hit a three-run homer as the United States rebounded with a 7-0 rout of The Netherlands on Thursday at the Summer Olympics.

Lee Jong-wook hit a sacrifice fly with one out as South Korea answered the Americans' ninth-inning rally with one of its own, beating the United States 8-7 on Wednesday night in a thrilling Olympic baseball opener.

Even Mark Newman, who is in Beijing for the Olympics, can follow David Ortiz on MLB.TV or get Video Alerts on his mobile phone. Such is the state of technology, allowing people all over the world to keep watching baseball.

The most striking thing about Beijing right now is the absolute and total takeover of attention on the Games and the making of new local legend where powerful dynasties once ruled. It is the first Olympiad allowed unto this massive nation, and its minions are riveted by the opportunity, engulfed in what is shaping up as the uber-competition of them all -- a heavyweight fight with the United States for most overall medals.

Michael Phelps, continuing in his bid to win every gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, has just been named the starting pitcher for the United States baseball team at 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday against Korea.

While the 2008 Summer Olympics play out in Beijing, Minor League reporter Lisa Winston takes a look at the top U.S. prospects and the young superstars who missed their bid at international stardom to make their Major League debuts.

The U.S. baseball team took batting practice and scrimmaged in shorts and T-shirts on a sweltering evening Saturday. The team has an exhibition scheduled at 9 a.m. local time Sunday against China, and rain is in the forecast at some point during the day.

After the Saturday stabbing of the relative of a U.S. volleyball coach, the US baseball team is awaiting instructions as to whether it will require additional security, though practices will continue as planned.

The Summer Olympics are officially under way, the cauldron flame has been lighted in a manner that will be talked about for generations, China has a lot of new friends and "The Greatest Show On Earth" lived up to its $100 million expectations on a sultry Friday night inside the incomparable Bird's Nest.

From Mark Spitz's astonishing performance in 1976 to Ben Sheets' Gold-producing shutout in 2000, the United States has a rich history of Olympic triumphs. As the world converges on Beijing, China, for the 2008 Summer Games, a wealth of new memories is sure to emerge.